FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 

 or an evyn square grete tre. Take thenne a plutnmers wire that is 

 evyn and streyte and sharpe at one ende; hete the sharpe ende in a 

 charcole fiyre tyll it be whyte, and brenne the staffe therewyth 

 thorugh, ever streyte in the pythe at bothe endes tyll they mete. Any 

 after that, brenne hym in the nether ende wyth a byrde broche* and 

 wyth other broches eche gretter than other, and ever the grettest 

 the laste, so that ye make your hole aye tapre well. Thenne let 

 hym lye styll and kelef two dayes. Unfrette hym thenne and lete 

 hym drye in an hous roof in the smoke tyll he be thrugh drye. 

 In the same season take a fayr yerde of grene hasyll and beth 

 him evyn and streyghte, and lete it drye with the staffe. And whan 

 they ben drye, make the yerde mete unto the hole in the staffe, 

 unto halfe the length of the staffe. And to perfourme that other 

 halfe of the croppe, take a fayr shote of blacke thorn, crabbe tree, 

 medeler or of jenypre kytte in the same season, and well bethyd and 

 streyghte, and frette theym togyder fetely soo that the croppe may 

 justly entre all into the sayd hole. Thenne shave your staffe and make 

 hym tapre well. Thenne vyrellj the staffe at bothe endes wyth longe 

 hopis of yren or laton^ in the clennest wise, wyth a pyke in the nether 

 ende fastnyd wyth a rennynge vyce to take in and oute your croppe. 

 Thenne set your croppe an handfuU within the over ende of your 

 staffe in suche wise that it be as bigge there as in ony other place 

 above. Thenne arme your croppe at thover ende downe to the frette 

 wyth a lyne of vi heeres, and dubbe the lyne and frette it fast in the 

 toppe wyth a bowe to fasten on your lyne. And thus shall ye make you 

 a rodde so prevy that ye may walke therwyth, and there shall no man 

 wyte where abowte ye goo. It woU be lyghte and full nymbyll to fyshe 

 wyth at your luste." 

 He who has experienced the zest added to killing a salmon when 

 this is done with a fly of his own manufacture, may judge how greatly 

 the pleasure must have been enhanced for him who had constructed his 

 own rod. 



The chief difference between a modern salmon-rod and one of the kind 

 in favour a generation ago consists in the greater pliancy of the former, 

 its heavier top and lighter butt. Ash and hickory, the stand-by of our 

 sires, for butt and middle joint, with lance -wood and bamboo for the 

 top, have gone clean out of vogue, and the best salmon-rods are now 



* Skewer. fCool. | Ferrule. $ Brass or bronze. 



30 



